Chapter 20
Childhood Sweethearts
"The first love is the sweetest. But that first cut is the deepest." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
A loud crash echoed through the apartment, causing Magnus to jump and pull back from his embrace.
Alec stood in the living room doorway, his azure eyes wide with shock, the mug he'd been holding on the floor. It took a moment for Magnus to realize why Alec looked so hurt. He opened his mouth to explain that it wasn't what it looked like, that he and Camille were friends and that he'd missed her in a purely platonic way. But before he could begin to explain Camille spoke.
"Alec," she cried and hugged him too, causing Alec's jaw to drop. "I heard what happened to Maggie and I needed to see if he was ok. I know we haven't spoken much lately, but I missed him so much and we've been friends for so long that I…" She looked at Alec apologetically (although it didn't seem genuine), "would you mind if we had time to talk...alone?"
Alec cleared his throat and hastily sprung to life. "Of-of coarse," he stuttered, frantically gathering his phone, wallet and coat. "I'll um see you guys tomorrow at school." He hurriedly made his way to the door, his head down.
"Alec, Alec wait" Magnus protested, trying to block the door. "This, this- I"
"It's ok," Alec whispered and Magnus was horrified to see that the blue eyes he adored were teary and sad. "She's right, she knows you better...I- I should go". He ducked under Magnus arm and walked out of the apartment.
"Alexander please," Magnus whispered at his boyfriend's back, "please stay."
Alec paused, his back still turned and Magnus dared hope. But before he could let the air out of his lungs, Alec walked out of sight.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Isabelle
"I never love nobody fully.
Always one foot on the ground" - Reginor Spektor
Isabelle's hands twitched nervously by her side where they were clenched into sweaty fists. "Just do it" she told herself. "What's the point of ignoring the signs, sure ignorance is bliss but it will hurt everyone more in the end." She took a long breath through her nose and quickly grabbed the box off the shelf and headed to the till.
The cashier, a greasy haired ginger, scanned the item and droned "that'll be 13 dollars". Isabelle handed over the money, refusing to make eye contact and hastily stuffed the little box into her bag.
Back in the car she started up the creaky old engine and turned up the volume of the stereo, blasting out Bastille. She sang, focused on the road and tapped out the lyrics in Morse code, something her and Alec had learnt when little in order to communicate in the night.
When she reached their home, a small apartment in a shabby complex, she leapt out and ran towards their door, taking the stairs two at a time. She knew her mum wasn't home due to the lack of shoes and coat in the hallway (her mother was a woman of habit and always hung her stuff in the same place when home).
However after opening her bedroom door she stopped short. Alec was sat on her bed fiddling nervously with her duvet. "Isabelle" he said, looking up as she walked in. "I need some advice." Isabelle started, not expecting to see her brother so soon.
"Alec what are you doing here?"
Alec looked at her as if she were dumb, "I need some advice" he repeated.
"Yes well you've never asked for advice before. Plus you could have rang, you have school tomorrow."
There was a pause then Alec smiled slightly, "since when were you responsible?" he chuckled, patting the space besides him. Isabelle laughed and sat before facing him expectantly.
"Ok," Alec started, "So first I'll have to tell you about Magnus and Camille Belcourt." and so he told her all about the two's friendship, then relationship and how it all ended. Then he recounted the events of the evening. "...And I know they were just hugging but they were so close and his eyes were shut and when they saw me he looked kind of guilty. Then Camille started saying how she knew him so well and she needed to talk to him alone," Alec gushed, breathless, "so I left…"
Isabelle sat back digesting all she had been told. Her instinctual reaction was to leave, find Magnus and punch him repeatedly in the face….but she knew that wasn't a good idea. She had never seen Alec like this before. Alec who'd never really shown the slightest interest in a boy before, who was suddenly head-over-heals in love. "Well…." Isabelle bit her lip, she wasn't very good at relationship advice- mainly because she'd never had a real one. "Maybe you should give him a chance to explain…...and her." Alec opened his mouth to protest but she cut him off, "I know I know, she sounds like a Bitch- I should know. But if they were childhood friends….maybe he does miss her in a friend way. You can't control who he's friends with, in the end it's his choice."
Alec sank down into the bed, defeated. "I know Iz," he mumbled, "and Magnus deserves as many friends as possible right now. It's just….." He shifted, biting his lip, "she makes me feel so….insignificant. I never really got why Magnus even likes me in the first place...and when I'm next to someone as beautiful a-and popular as her..I don't feel like I deserve him." He looked up at her then, his big blue eyes wet and his breath shaky.
Isabelle felt a swell of protective love in her chest and she grabbed her brother and pulled him into a hug. "Don't ever doubt your worth Alec" she whispered into his hair, "you're better than us all." He sobbed slightly at this and she tightened her grip around her brother, pushing the small box containing a pregnancy test to the back of her mind, she would deal with that later.
A/N
Hey there guys….
CHECK OUT THE SUPER FAST UPDATE!
Don't get used to it tho. I know it's short but I wanted to update today as a kind of, end of 2014 present :). Thanks for the reviews on my last chap, I've replied to them all through pm.
Just realized this is now my longest fic (yay)
what do you guys think about the Isabelle twist…..who's the daddy?
more reviews = quicker update- just saying
Thanks for reading you kool kool kool kids ;)
Lots of virtual love
Amy
xxx